Improved seat oe shelf



F. c. BROWNELL.

School Furniture.

No. 63.464. Patented April 2, 1867.

Quinn fates ilatent ffits.

FRANKLIN C. BROWNELL, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY. Letters Patent No. 63,464, dated April 2, 1867.

IIV IPROVBD SEAT 0R SHELF.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN C. BROWNELL, of East Orange, in the county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Folding Seats or. Shelves; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is an end view of the seat attached to a desk.

Figure 2 is the same with the seat folded up.

Figure 3'is an end view of the seat, detached.

Figure 4 is an inside view of the seat arm. I

Figure 5 is a detached side view of the joint for the seat.

My invention is not a folding seat, for such have previously been made; but it consists in the particular manner of suspending and supporting such a seat or shelf, hereinafter more fully described, and in making the same, so that when ready for use it may be easily changed from a folding to a fixed seat, and the reverse, at pleasure. 7

On each end of the shelf or seat 13 is an oblong projection or pivot A, which may be'a part thereof, or, as I prefer to make it, may be of metal, and be part of an arm, L, fig. 4, which is attached to the seat by screws, or any suitable means. These pivots enter sockets in the two side-pieces or standards 0 0, between which the seat is suspended. Said sockets are made by removing from within a circle whose diameter equals the breadth of'the pivot A opposite portions E E, sufficient to admit within the opening thus made the said pivot, horizontally, or inits proper position when the seat is in use, and also to permit it to revolve sutficiently for the seat to turn up againstthe back, or about nine y degrees. The remaining portions, K K, within said circles, form projections on opposite sides of said pivots, and serve to keep them in the middle of said sockets while turning, and also to support them, with the seat thereto attached, when the same is in position for use. Said sockets may be merely indentations in the side-pieces, but Iprefer to have them open entirely through the same. H H are-recesses in the sides of the sockets into which the pivots may slide, and where it will remain until forcibly removed therefrom, thus preventing accidental turning of the seat either up or down. It will often be desirable to fasten the'shelf or seat up or down, and this be done sufiiciently to prevent accidental motion by simply 'sliding the pivots into the notches H,'and it can be effectually accomplished'by inserting firmly a wedge or block of proper form in front of the pivots to retain them in said notches, or above or below the pivots, in either or both of the spaces E E. It is evident that the middle portion of the pivot-A may be removed, thus making two projections, as shown by dotted lines in fig. 5, which may turn either in the opening or socket already described, or in the two curved openings formed therefrom when the projections K K are joined in a circular piece, as shown by dotted lines in fig. 5, in either case being equivalent to an oblong pivot'and a socket adapted thereto. In short, the projection or several projections of each end may be of any desired form, and the openings in the side-pieces to correspond therewith, the essential features being that said projection or combined projections be oblong and serve as a pivot on which the seat may turn, and also support the seat in position for use by portions of-its two opposite sides resting against two opposite sides of an irregular-shaped socket. The pivot may project on a line with the seat, or at any desired angle therewith, or it may be formed on the side supports, and the corresponding socket be fastened to the 0nd of the seat. I The socket, and likewise the pivot, can be cast in metal so perfect as to form a good working joint, thus saving the expense of drilling and riveting usually required for hinge joints.

My invention is well adapted for shelves in stores and other places, particularly where articles of difierent heights are kept, as one or more intermediate shelves may be folded to admit tall articles and be replaced at will for shorter ones.

It is especially designed for use in schools, alone, or in combination with a desk, D, as shown in figs. 1 and 2, being for such use less expensive than chairs, and much more convenient for sweeping, and passing from one aisle to another,

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The standards 0, with the recesses E E, and with or without the recesses H H, the arms L, and projections A, combined and arranged substantially as and for the purposes specified.

FRANKLIN O. BROWNELL.

Witnesses:

HENRY H. LLOYD, BENJ. S-Dnnanssr. 

